More news from the Summit, youth seek rural life

Rural youth in attendance at the Rural Youth Summit and 2007 National Summit on Agriculture and Rural Life talk about their desires to live and work in rural communities in a Brownfield Network audio piece.  Many are looking for a way to return to, or move to, rural areas to begin farming, but face a lack of access to capitol and high land prices. 

At the Summit, youth discussed these and other challenges, and they worked together to identify sustainable solutions for youth to create a life and a living in rural communities. 

Presidential Candidates Address Rural Youth Summit

Presidential Candidates Clinton, Obama, Edwards and Cox addressed Rural Youth Summit and 2007 National Summit on Agriculture and Rural Life participants on Saturday. They were asked to address rural issues and how they, as President, will strengthen rural communities. This discussion ranged from healthcare to job creation,farming to country of origin labeling and everything in between. You can read more at Daily Yonder, The Ames Tribune or My Main Street News.

The day before the Presidential candidates arrived, the conference focused on youth concerns in rural areas. Participants discussed how to create a youth-friendly climate in rural areas and discussed successes and challenges of rural living. Andy Larson, an Iowa State University graduate student, gave the opening talk and spoke of growing up on a rural Illnois dairy farm. He plans to go back to his home town after college. He talked about the sense of community he grew up in, long standing relationships and the challenges of being a young professional and making plans to move back. He left youth with the message that you can move forward by going back. More information and the program agenda can be found at Rural Youth Summit.

Just one concern of beginning farmers

We've talked with many young folks who desire to become farmers, and they often share this same concern.  It also comes up when rural communities examine challenges to their local food system.  And, from New Americans who want to own their own farm, rather than continue renting.  The concern:  the high price of farm land. 

This challenge is compounded by land purchases for tax purposes whereby people from outside the community, and often outside the state, purchase land at prices often times higher than young beginning and new farmers can afford, driving the land prices higher.  People also purchase land for hunting and recreation, in turn often causing land prices to escalate higher. Other factors too, keep land prices high.  How do we find workable solutions and opportunities for these young beginning farmers to purchase farmland?  Join us for that discussion with our young beginning farmers at the Rural Youth Summit in Ames, Iowa October 26-27.

For further reading:

Farmland value up in North Dakota

Young farmers shares new vision for Hmong farming